What to Expect on the Trail
Daily routine: Wake 5:30 to 6:00 AM. Breakfast (Tibetan bread, porridge, or eggs). On the trail by 7:00 AM. Lunch at a teahouse around 11:30 (dal bhat is the standard and the most filling option). Another 2 to 3 hours walking. Dinner at 6:30 PM. Guide briefing. Lights out 8:30 PM.
Teahouses: Family-run lodges with twin rooms, thin mattresses, shared squat toilets. Up to Samdo, teahouses are quite comfortable with clean rooms and sometimes attached bathrooms. Hot showers available at most lodges up to Sama Gaon (NPR 300 to 500). Above Samdo, conditions become basic. Dharmasala has one dormitory-style lodge. A communal dining room warmed by a wood or dung stove is the social hub of every teahouse.
Food: Dal bhat, thukpa, chow mein, fried rice, Tibetan bread, eggs, basic pasta. Prices: NPR 500 to 600 at lower elevations, NPR 800 to 1,000 above Samdo. Vegetarian food is easy. Yak steak is common. Other meat is rare above Namrung.
Connectivity: NTC phone signal at most villages up to Sama Gaon. Wi-Fi at many teahouses (NPR 200 to 500/day), slow and intermittent. Device charging NPR 200 to 500. Signal and services unreliable above Samdo. Bring a power bank.
Water: Do not drink unfiltered tap water. Boiled water NPR 100 to 300/liter. We recommend purification tablets or a filter.
What We Handle
When you book with us, Amrit Khadka confirms your dates and collects documents. The evening before departure, you attend a briefing at our office at Paknajol 16, Thamel, Kathmandu. Gokarna or Amrit walks through the itinerary, introduces your guide, and checks your gear. We provide sleeping bag and down jacket if needed.
Day 1: Vehicle pickup from your hotel at 6:00 AM. Excess luggage stored at our office, free.
Day 12: Drop-off at your hotel.
Emergency protocol: We carry a satellite communication device on every trek above Sama Gaon. If our guide calls for helicopter evacuation, we coordinate directly with the helicopter company and your insurance provider. Average evacuation time from the upper trail to Kathmandu: 2 to 4 hours depending on weather. This is why we require travel insurance covering high-altitude trekking and helicopter evacuation before we start.
Extra days in Kathmandu? We arrange tours to Bhaktapur, Patan, Nagarkot, Chandragiri Hill, or the Kathmandu sightseeing circuit.
Useful Information
Food and Accomodation
Throughout the journey of the Manaslu Circuit Trek, you will be provided with three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. The traditional teahouses of the local families that are mainly established along the trekking trails will serve you healthy and fresh meals along with comfortable accommodations.
The ingredients in meals are usually locally grown crops and vegetables. So, they are nutritious and good for your health. In teahouse menus, you can find a range of traditional and Western cuisines made from veg and nonveg items. Dalbhat is a a staple food in the teahouse, which is a combination of rice, lentils and pickles. Besides, you can enjoy dishes like momo, chowmein, Yak steaks, flatbreads, egg and jam bread, thukpa, potato curry, pizza, pasta, sandwiches etc.
The rooms in teahouses are simple and shared. You will find two to three beds in a single room. In bed, there will be pillows, a warm blanket and mattresses. Likewise, toilets (mostly squat styles), bathrooms and eating halls are also common. You will get basic amenities for your stay in teahouses. Additional facilities like hot showers, WiFi and electronic charging costs you an extra amount. The facilities and availability of teahouses decline as you ascend more but the prices increase. You also have the option to choose more upscale teahouses at a higher cost.
Guide and Porter
Guide and porter are the crucial aspects of remote and high altitude mountain journeys. There is a high chance that in unfamiliar and wilderness Himalayan locations, you may lose way or encounter tough situations. Likewise, you may not proceed through rough mountainous terrains with loads of heavy backpacks. For this very purpose, you need to hire a government licensed and experienced trekking guide from an authorized trekking agency as well as a strong local porter.
Guides help you safely navigate complex mountainous trails and terrains. They also provide valuable insights into the rich history, diverse landscapes, local traditions, architectural heritage and breathtaking natural features of the trekking regions. Guides are well known about the local terrain and weather conditions and safeguard you from potential dangers. Furthermore, they also serve as a medium of communication by translating languages between you and the native communities.
On the other hand, porters let you enjoy the trek hands free. They will relieve you from the burden of backpack weights and allow you to fully focus on enjoying the journey. Local porters are accustomed to traversing the rugged mountain routes and are skilled at handling difficulties along the way. So they can ensure a safe and smooth adventure for you.
Risk of Altitude Sickness, Symptoms and Preventive Measures
The risk of altitude sickness is high during the alpine Himalayan journey of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. It will take you to the breathtaking elevations in the high mountains. At significant heights, there will be less air pressure and low oxygen levels, which will eventually lead to altitude sickness.
During the Manaslu Circuit trekking journey, you will be staying over 3,000 meters for many days. Likewise, you will cross the high Himalayan pass of Larkya La, which is at 5,106 meters. So, the chance of altitude sickness occurring cannot be denied during this alpine journey
Symptoms of altitude sickness
The symptoms of altitude sickness are generally seen after crossing an elevation of over 2,500 meters. These symptoms include:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Rapid heartbeat
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Sleeplessness
- Breathlessness
If you notice these symptoms, inform your guides and get down to the lower altitudes immediately. Remain there until you recover fully and only continue to ascend further.
Preventive measures of altitude sickness.
- Keep yourself well hydrated by drinking at least 3 to 4 liters of water every day. You can also have fruit juices, herbal teas and other liquids.
- Avoid smoking cigarettes and intake of alcoholic beverages. This will exacerbate the threat of altitude sickness.
- Eat foods that are fresh, healthy and nutritious. Do not go for packaged meals or after the taste.
- Taking frequent breaks for hydration and relaxation. Pacing steadily and ascending slowly to the altitude helps your body to get ample time for proper acclimatization.
- Sleep well and get enough rest. Avoid taking sleeping pills, which affects acclimatization.
Permits Required for the Journey
The essential permits to go for the adventurous journey of the Manaslu Circuit Trek Nepal are:
- Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) Permit
- Manaslu Restricted Area Permit (MRAP) or Gorkha Manaslu Area Permit.
- Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) Permit.
The cost for MCAP and ACAP permits is NPR 3,000 per person. However, for MRAP or Chumnubri Rural Municipality Entry Permit, you have to pay two different fees depending on the trekking season. From September to November, the MRAP fee is USD 100 per person per week and after one week, it rises by USD 15 per person per day. Likewise, from December to August, the cost for restricted area permit is USD 75 per person per week and beyond one week, it increases by USD 10 per person per day.
You cannot apply for the restricted area permit by yourself. Rather, you will have to purchase a guided package from a reputable travel agency to go on the Manaslu Circuit trekking journey. And at least there must be two members in a group to get this special permit. So, if you are traveling alone, we will join you with the other traveler's group and obtain permits.
We will help you get all the permits for the Manaslu Circuit Trek beforehand on your behalf. However, you will have to send us the required documents, such as a copy of your passport and airline tickets and two passport-size photographs.
Is Travel Insurance Needed?
Yes, travel insurance is necessary during the high altitude mountain endeavor of the Manaslu Circuit Trek. Your remote adventure can face difficulties and unexpected emergencies. Travel insurance is vital to take you out of those conditions. This way, you can have peace of mind and can fully immerse yourself in the journey.
With travel insurance, you can rest assured of the following happenings.
- To cover losses or provide financial protection for different unforeseen circumstances during your remote travel.
- For immediate access to medical facilities and treatment in the event of sickness, injuries or accidents.
- Travel insurance covers medical expenses such as ambulance services, hospital stays, doctor visits, emergency surgeries, medication bills and more.
- To receive reimbursement for non refundable costs such as transportation, permits, accommodation, trek bookings, etc, in the case of a trip cancellation.
- It handles your lost, delayed and stolen baggage during the journey. Travel insurance provides compensation for the value of lost or stolen items in your baggage. It also covers the cost of essential items you need to buy while waiting for your delayed baggage to be returned.
- It also takes care of expenses due to travel delays caused by bad weather, political strikes, natural disasters and other covered reasons.
- Quick rescue from a helicopter and emergency evacuation to a nearby hospital in urgent situations
We recommend you purchase an all inclusive travel insurance policy that covers alpine trekking and a helicopter evacuation. After you book the trek with us, you are requested to submit your insurance documents. This will allow us to use your insurance policy to proceed with the process and offer you prompt assistance if needed.
Packing Ideas and Recommendations for Manaslu Circuit Trek
While packing for the alpine adventure of the Manaslu Circuit trek, you need to be considerate of the time of your travel. Mostly for the high altitude trekking journey in the high Himalayan regions, you should pack clothes in a layered approach.
The weather in the Himalayan areas is usually unpredictable and unstable. Likewise, the temperature here fluctuates a lot, generally being colder for most of the time. Hence, you need to pack comfortable layers that can be added up or removed quickly as per changing weather and temperature conditions.
Include lightweight, breathable and moisture wicking base layers. You can normally wear these layers during the lower region treks. Similarly, bring insulated and thermal mid layers for warmth as temperatures drop when you ascend more to the altitudes. Likewise, carry waterproof and windproof outer layers to shield from rain, snow and strong winds. Additionally, carry a down jacket and pants for extremely cold high altitude mountain weather, which is usually more experienced in early morning and nighttime.
Apart from the clothes, pack comfortable footwear for easy and smooth walks. Consider wearing sports shoes for short and easy hikes. Likewise, for walking over uneven ground surfaces and off the beaten wilderness areas, you need sturdy and worn in trekking boots. Plus, do not forget to include slippers or flip flops in your backp[ack, which counts to be easy during teahouse stays.
Book the Manaslu Circuit Trek
Fixed departures run in March, April, October, and November. Custom departures available for groups of 2+ on any date from March through November. Solo trekkers welcome year-round.
From US$1,060 per person. All permits, meals, guide, porter, and transport included.
Book this trip | Customize your trip
Questions? WhatsApp Gokarna at +977 9851363944 or email [email protected]. We respond within a few hours, even on weekends.
